They are not being charged because they protested, they’re being charged for breaking in and damaging a lot of military equipment. I think it’s a bit far to call them terrorists, but you can sort of see the government’s point, if you squint.
Out of curiosity, I looked up the US Federal definition of terrorism
> 5. the term “domestic terrorism” means activities that- > 1. involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State; > 2. appear to be intended- > 1. to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; > 2. to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or > 3. to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and > 3. occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States
The element danger to human life is missing, so it wouldn’t fit their definition.
However, the UK legal definition
> 1. In this Act “terrorism” means the use or threat of action where— > 1. the action falls within subsection (2), > 1. the use or threat is designed to influence the government [or an international governmental organisation][^F1] or to intimidate the public or a section of the public, and > 1. the use or threat is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious [, racial][^F2] or ideological cause. > 1. Action falls within this subsection if it— > 1. involves serious violence against a person, > 1. involves serious damage to property, > 1. endangers a person’s life, other than that of the person committing the action, > 1. creates a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or a section of the public, or > 1. is designed seriously to interfere with or seriously to disrupt an electronic system. > 1. The use or threat of action falling within subsection (2) which involves the use of firearms or explosives is terrorism whether or not subsection (1)(2) is satisfied. > 1. In this section— > 1. “action” includes action outside the United Kingdom, > 1. a reference to any person or to property is a reference to any person, or to property, wherever situated, > 1. a reference to the public includes a reference to the public of a country other than the United Kingdom, and > 1. “the government” means the government of the United Kingdom, of a Part of the United Kingdom or of a country other than the United Kingdom. > 1. In this Act a reference to action taken for the purposes of terrorism includes a reference to action taken for the benefit of a proscribed organisation.
is wild: no danger to human life required, merely serious damage to property suffices!
[^F1]: Words in s. 1(1)(2) inserted (13.4.2006) by Terrorism Act 2006 (c. 11), s. 34; S.I. 2006/1013, art. 2 [^F2]: Words in s. 1(1)(3) inserted (16.2.2009) by Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 (c. 28), ss. 75(1)(2)(a), 100(5) (with s. 101(2)); S.I. 2009/58, art. 2(a)
In this Act “terrorism” means the use or threat of action where—
the action falls within subsection (2), the use or threat is designed to influence the government [or an international governmental organisation][1] or to intimidate the public or a section of the public
Wow, so the very act of peaceful protest is now defined as ‘terrorism’?
creates a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or a section of the public
I don’t know: it’s possible. If legal definitions & case law (which I don’t know enough about) don’t settle their meaning, then they could mean anything. A lawyer could clarify.
For sure. e.g. Block the road, you block emergency vehicles / assault on emergency workers = terrorism.
Plain old traffic jams and collisions block emergency vehicles all the time. Doesn’t seem to be a problem during these very normal things that happen all the time … but protestors block a road and suddenly it’s a huge problem.
I see: that technically could.
Noel_Skum@sh.itjust.works 3 days ago
The UK definition isn’t that wild - the ‘ra used to plant bombs and then phone it in. There’s still terror seeing a building explode - knowing the only reason there aren’t casualties is because the bombers, this time, called it in with 15 minutes on the fuse.
lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com 3 days ago
Acts dangerous to human life don’t require actual casualties: if people need to leave to avoid death or injury, then that’s an act dangerous to human life.